It’s safe to say the 2025-26 season hasn’t gone as planned for Liverpool and their talismanic forward Mohamed Salah.
The Reds’ Premier League title defense has continued to falter after the first few weeks of the new season as they find themselves 14 points behind leaders Arsenal.
To make matters worse, Salah’s relationship with the club – and Arne Slot – in particular, seems to have turned sour.
After being dropped from the starting XI for three successive games in late 2025, the Egyptian went on an explosive rant to the media, accusing the club of ‘throwing him under the bus’ and adding that his relationship with Slot is broken.
Salah’s AFCON commitment with Egypt actually worked out quite well for all parties involved, as his temporary absence from England allowed the situation to calm down a little bit.
He has returned to the starting XI in recent weeks, playing in each of Liverpool’s last four games across all competitions.
However, his future is far from decided, with all parties expected to sit down at the end of the season to discuss the course of action.
Al-Ittihad want to sign Salah in the summer
Saudi Pro League teams have tracked Salah for several years now, so their interest in him is the worst-kept secret in world football.
However, Al-Ittihad’s urgency could see them firm up their interest after Karim Benzema’s controversial switch to Al-Hilal recently.
The reigning champions have lost their leading man and have a vacancy to fill in attack, due to which Salah has emerged on their radar again.
According to Saudi publication Win Win, Ittihad are interested in signing Salah at the end of the season, who will only have a year left on his current deal.
The summer of 2026 is viewed as the last time Liverpool can get a fee for the 33-year-old, presenting the Reds with an important decision to make.
The report also states that Ittihad are yet to make contact with Liverpool or Salah, with the Egyptian yet to give the green light to swap Europe for Saudi Arabia as things stand.
How has Salah fared for Liverpool this season?
In 24 appearances across all competitions, Salah has notched up six goals and assists apiece for Liverpool.
And while that isn’t a poor record by any stretch of the imagination, it is undoubtedly his poorest season at Anfield since he joined the club in the summer of 2017.
Salah’s powers certainly haven’t waned. He has simply been unable to produce as consistently as he has over the years, which is understandable, as this is arguably the first extended rough patch of his illustrious Liverpool career.
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He is back in the team and recently scored a free kick in the 6-0 UEFA Champions League thumping of Qarabag, while he also set up Florian Wirtz in the Reds’ morale-boosting 4-1 Premier League win against Newcastle United.
That said, it remains to be seen if he’s buried the hatchet with Slot or the pair have simply shaken hands for the time being.
In any case, Salah’s future is set to be re-evaluated at the end of the season. Over the years, Michael Edwards has shown that he won’t retain players beyond their sell-by dates, more so for the ones on the wrong end of 30.
The 33-year-old is clearly an exception in this aspect as he – along with club captain Virgil van Dijk – were given two-year contract extensions after spearheading Liverpool to the Premier League title last season.
Salah’s future very much hangs in the balance and a lot depends on how the rest of the season pans out. If Liverpool fail to win any silverware and continue to falter in the Premier League, they might shake hands with the Egyptian and reluctantly part ways with him if a suitable offer arrives.
On the other hand, if Salah really pulls up his socks and delivers as he’s done so often in his career so far, they might just be willing to keep him for another season and lose him for free in 2027.